Read Our Useful Guide to Paving Permeable Driveways

Thinking of a new Driveway? Paving permeable solutions

To find a paving permeable solution is pretty new in the Irish and British markets. But this is set to head up trade in coming years. The technology behind it is Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) which help prevent flooding from stormwater. As the country is developed further, with even more roads, pavements and buildings, the environment will struggle to cope. These drainage systems also prevent watercourses from being polluted and take the pressure off the struggling sewerage systems.

What are the pollution effects?

As there is an ever-increasing number of cars and machinery used by people today, we are seeing more pollution, like heavy metal and hydrocarbons which are released into the atmosphere. Surfaces which are impermeable will let the runoff water flow into our natural watercourses and sewers This, in turn, can cause major damage to treatment plants. Flora and fauna of rivers, streams and ditches can also be affected.

How systems help when you want to have paving permeable?

Permeable block paving systems allow the pollutants to be caught within the sub-base. SUDS aim is to address these problems and MD paving follow these guidelines when it comes to laying down block paving. Also, many local authorities like for Leeds paving, planners and developers are giving consideration to the use of these paving systems. They can be a more cost-effective route than traditional methods.

There are different kinds of paving permeable coverings to use:

– Infiltration. This is where the surface water is channelled through voids within the areas of solid block paving. For example, concrete block paving.

– Porous. This is where the water drains directly through the block paved surface. For example, filled cellular gravel paving or a resin bound aggregate paving surface.

Other surfaces to pave include:

Clay pavers, cell matrix ground reinforcement, grass pavers and no-fines concrete.

For low-speed areas such as driveways, an infiltratable block paving system is used. Macadams and porous asphalts are being trialled including resin bound pervious surfaces. Though it’s said that gravel is one of the best and long lasting permeable surfaces.

So to summarise the benefits of a block paving permeable paved system is as follows:

Simplicity

This is an element of source control, as it deals with the water where it actually lands.

Quantity

This will help to reduce the effect of stormwater on the local river and stream systems by infiltration and attenuation. This, in turn, reduces the risk of flash flooding.

Quality

It improves the quality of the rainwater in two different ways.

a) stones act as a filter, which removes the polluted particles such as heavy metals and silt and

b) the organisms in the paving blocks cultivate and break down the carbon leaks such as sump drips and fumes.

Practicality

All new home improvements and development sites will require some kind of hard paved landscaping, in which permeable paving is combined with an approved SUDS drainage system.

Cost

Usually less expensive than alternative impermeable surfaces, including storage and drainage.

With regards to the structure, the basic format of a permeable pavement solution is not too dissimilar from that used on standard block pavement. Subgrade is prepared and a similar specified paving material is then layered. This consists of granular material, such as grit and then the paving blocks on top. There could be geo-textiles embedded into the system, depending on your parameters. With alternative infiltration paving, each surface void is filled with granular material.

We hope you have a better understanding of Permeable Paving.

#For further information, please see our website – md-paving.co.uk